Edinburgh Airport has reported a further decline in passenger numbers for February.

New figures show passenger numbers fell 7.8 per cent year on year in February to 563,900.

Edinburgh Airport, which was sold by BAA to Global Infrastructure Partners in an £807 million deal in April 2012, also reported a 5.7 per cent year-on-year fall in January passenger numbers.

Aberdeen International Airport also reports a drop in February passenger numbers – down 1.6 per cent year on year – though weighed down by a 15 per cent drop in helicopter passengers due to some North Sea helicopters being grounded.

Fixed-wing passenger numbers at Aberdeen were up 1.7 per cent year on year in February.

Glasgow Airport also recorded growth of 2.1 per cent year on year for February, reversing a slight drop in January passenger numbers.

Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said the latest figures “hide good performances from a number of airlines, all of which saw traffic increases”.

He added: “We have worked hard to overcome the challenges we faced in 2012 and have secured new destinations for our passengers. Both Ryanair and easyJet are launching six new routes in the coming weeks.

“April will also see the launch of Little Red, the new Virgin Atlantic service from Edinburgh to London Heathrow.

“This is hugely exciting and will help redress the shortfall of domestic services impacted by the extra day in February last year.”

Last year Edinburgh Airport saw 190,000 fewer passengers pass through its terminals compared with BAA's remaining Scottish airports, Glasgow and Aberdeen International, which reported growth of 4.2 per cent eight per cent respectively.